Tuesday, July 14, 2009

I have decided to write about our art collection. My husband, Arnt and I have been collecting local artists, friends art and art on our travels. My first choice is our mask collection.

We bought this mask in San Blas, Mexico. The indigenous tribe, Huichol that makes these masks of bees wax, wood and beads live in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico. They don't use a pattern to create these masks. It is done freehand. They are all sacred animist images. We went to a show at the musem and looked at all the pieces on display but really loved the half finished piece the artist was working on there. We talked and he said come back in a week and it will be done. The images are scorpions, lizards, snakes, deer heads, butterflies and other natural flowers and fauna.

Fiji is where we got this mask. This is a piece of wood that has been painted and then carved. The turtle image is very important to the island as it represents health of the surrounding ocean. We also bought a paddle done the same way and a couple pieces of jewelry.

Ebony is the wood in this traditional mask from Bali, Indonesia. The image is of a Garuda. The Garuda (Sanskrit: Garuḍa गरुड, eagle; Pāli Garuḷa) is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology. ...We bought this beautiful piece as we were lying on the beach in our bathing suits. Now that is shopping! The carvers of Bali are amongst the best in the world. When they carve with their hand chisels and mallet, they use feet as a vise.

We were at a fundraiser for the Local BCNDP and this mask was on thesilent auction. We bid not thinkingwe would get it but we did. It ismade of cedar, paint, horse hair and the artist is Harold Madore.a Coast Salish native from Kispiox,BC. The west coast is getting anamazing reputation for its firstnative carvers.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Spent the weekend on Saltspring at an opening for my husband Arnt and two of his friends, Peter Pierobon and Brent Comber called Inside/Outside. The show featured furniture and sculpture for inside and sculpture outside. The owners Celia and Nick know their stuff and create a wonderful place to show art. We also got to stay with them at their home and ate fantastic meals on their patio overlooking pond, sculpture and their amazing garden. The show runs until October 2009 and is at 125 Churchhill on Saltspring Island. www.saltspringwoodworks.com for more info.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

I am in a show at Deer Lake Gallery in Burnaby, BC, called 1 X 1 which runs from July 25-August 9. The theme is Fire. I chose the torch of the Statue of Liberty as I had just been in New York. Will be interesting to see everyone's interpretations.

Well I went to my first art market as a vendor. It was in Abbotsford and its first year and maybe not advertised very well. Twenty artists and very little sales but met some great people and added to my mailing list and met the folks at Reach Gallery which could be a great connection for the ECC. Good thing I went with my gal pals as we treated it as a road trip and was actually a lot of fun. I think I would try it again.

About Me

I have been an artist for over 20 years. As I travel in different countries, including my own, I find I need to create art to continue my experience and memories of those places. My assemblage pieces consist of found objects combined with my photographs and treasures collected during my travels. Once in the studio I take from my myriad of labeled boxes an object that I want to start with and combine it with other objects, text, photographs usually constructed in a found box to tell the story.